Department for Transport

Bypasses: Greater Manchester

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress there has been on the A57/A628 bypass proposals in the Mottram-in-Longdendale and Hollingworth areas; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The A57/A628 Mottram bypass was confirmed in the first Road Investment Strategy in December 2014. Following this, Highways England has started developing its design in more detail. This work involves considering variations for the route, which Highways England will be seeking feedback on from stakeholders, including the local communities through which it passes.Before seeking this feedback, Highways England will assess options to establish what impacts they have – both positive and negative - on the environment, the wider network and economy. They will present information from the assessment to the public in the summer of 2016.Once this design and assessment work has been completed, the higher-performing options will be put before the public through a consultation process then as part of the statutory planning process. Public consultation is planned for 2017.

Stechford Station

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the accessibility alterations for Stechford Railway Station will begin.

Claire Perry: Network Rail have now finished assessing options for an accessible route at Stechford and will begin detailed design next month. Work should start on site late next year and take around eight months to complete.

Taxis

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that taxi operators and drivers in private hire vehicles are aware of their legal obligation to grant access to blind or partially-sighted people with guide dogs.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport has issued guidance to the licensed trade on the provisions in the Equality Act that require taxis and private hire vehicles to carry guide and other assistance dogs.In addition to their ability to take appropriate action in the event that licensed drivers fail to comply with this duty, local licensing authorities can inform taxi and private hire drivers of all their responsibilities as licensed drivers.

Heathrow Airport

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what preliminary discussion his Department has had with the European Commission on potential state aid issues relating to future public funding requirements for a new runway at Heathrow airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: No discussions have taken place with the European Commission on potential state aid or future public funding requirements for any of the three schemes shortlisted by the Airports Commission.

Railways: Lancashire

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will arrange to retain the points connecting Poulton-le-Fylde's disused railway line to Fleetwood.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on the electrification of the Blackpool North railway line and the proposed removal of points which connect this line with a disused railway line connecting Poulton-le-Fylde to Fleetwood.

Andrew Jones: The Secretary of State asked the new Chairman of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy, to review the delivery of all projects across the entire Rail enhancements portfolio.In the Blackpool North electrification scheme as it is currently defined, the connecting points will be removed from their current location as they restrict speed on a sharp curve towards Blackpool, but an allowance has been made in the design for a new, ‎simpler, connection, should the need arise to reconnect the line in future.

Railways: Lancashire

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has for the reopening of disused railway lines in Lancashire.

Andrew Jones: This Government believes that local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are best placed to decide on, and take forward, transport schemes which will most benefit their local area. In 2013 the Government established a £12bn Local Growth Fund (LGF) to support LEPs in delivering their priorities for supporting local economic growth. The Government has since awarded significant LGF funding through the Growth Deals, including £251m to Lancashire LEP, to enable local schemes to be taken forward.

Heathrow Airport

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2015 to Question 10131, what preliminary work his Department is undertaking to assess the public funding requirement of, and potential state aid issues related to, a new runway at Heathrow Airport before making any decision on next steps.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government continues to consider the large amount of very detailed analysis contained in the Airports Commission’s final report, including its examination of the costs and financing of the schemes, before taking any decisions on next steps.

Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will include aero-engines in the scope of his inquiry into whether car manufacturers in the UK have been using emission cheat devices.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that assessments of emissions from aero-engines in use in the UK used by his Department are independently verified as reflective of real-world conditions of use.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will take steps to assess whether tests for (a) carbon dioxide, (b) nitrogen oxide and (c) other emissions from aero-engines reflect real-world conditions of use.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The certification of aero-engines is primarily the responsibility of the certification authority for the state of manufacture. In Europe this is the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) who also have oversight of engines certified in other regions that expect to be registered in the UK or any other European country. We are in discussion with EASA as to how we might be reassured that the results for aviation certifications are robust. The certification requirement for Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Carbon Monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbon is based on operating the engine on a test bed at different thrust settings to simulate the landing and take-off phases of flight below 3000 feet. The visible smoke test identifies the worst case condition for smoke. A new standard for CO2 emissions from aircraft is being developed and is expected to assess the cruise emissions as this phase dominates total fuel burn. EASA certification engineers would verify the fuel burn on tightly controlled test flights. The Secretary of State informed the Transport Select Committee on 12th October that the current focus of the Government’s investigation into the use of defeat devices is focussed on cars and light commercial vehicles.

Heathrow Airport: Air Pollution

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will make it its policy to make allowances for findings by the US Environmental Protection Agency of cheating by car manufacturers in vehicle emissions tests when assessing the conclusions relating to likely air quality effects of an expanded Heathrow in the Airports Commission final report.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Any decision regarding future airport capacity will take into account the Government’s overall plan to improve air quality and its commitment to comply with EU air quality standards.

Calder Valley Railway Line

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when work is scheduled to begin on electrification and improvement of the Calder Valley rail line.

Andrew Jones: Work on the Calder Valley Line to increase capacity and provide the infrastructure to enable shorter journey times on this busy rail corridor is currently in the final planning stages and will start on the ground in January 2016.Network Rail is currently updating its national electrification strategy. This includes the case for electrifying the Calder Valley line. Network Rail is taking into account the recommendations of the Northern Electrification Task Force - which placed this line in the top tier for consideration. The updated strategy will inform the Government’s next Rail Investment Strategy for the period 2019-2024.

Aviation: Fuels

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations to airline operators on passing the reduction in air fuel costs on to passengers.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government has regular discussions with the industry on a range of issues, and will continue to press for a fair deal for the travelling public.The airline industry is intensely competitive and there is no evidence of any market failure that would prevent cost savings being passed onto customers.

Trams: Concessions

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to include travel on trams in the pensioners' bus pass.

Andrew Jones: The statutory minimum entitlement of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme pertains to bus travel only and, given the current financial climate, there are no plans to extend the statutory scheme to include travel on any other mode of transport.However, local authorities have the power to offer additional local concessions, which allows far more flexibility than would be the case with a blanket statutory enhancement.Indeed, figures for 2015/16 show that 87 of the 89 Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) outside London do offer some form of discretionary concession to their residents.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the route of phase one of High Speed 2 was surveyed prior to the publication of the Supplementary Environmental Statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Supplementary Environmental Assessment was based on physical surveys of around 75% of the land within Bill limits.

National Environmental Forum

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what dates the National Environmental Forum has met since 2012; and who attended each such meeting.

Mr Robert Goodwill: There have been 11 National Environment Forums that have taken place since 2012. Representatives attend from a range of relevant Government organisations to ensure environmental issues are taken account of.The attendees are:DfTHS2 LtdEnvironment AgencyDECCDEFRAEnglish HeritageNatural EnglandHistoric EnglandArupDCMSForestry Commission

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the Work of the Natural Capital Committee has informed environmental decision-making on the High Speed 2 project.

Mr Robert Goodwill: HS2 has been designed to meet all of the legislation and relevant policy currently in place to protect the environment. Many of the recommendations set out by the Natural Capital Committee have already been addressed by the work being undertaken by HS2 Ltd, such as the use of webTAG and aiming to achieve no net loss to biodiversity.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Keir Starmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of redeveloping the eastern side of Euston station at a level deck with the High Speed 2 once HS2 Ltd has reduced the number of classic platforms by five in construction stage B1; and what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) local residents and businesses and (b) existing rail users of treating this project as a separate scheme from the construction of the High Speed 2 station at Euston.

Mr Robert Goodwill: HS2 Ltd deposited an Additional Provision (AP3) to the HS2 Phase One hybrid Bill on 16 September 2015 which includes revised plans for London Euston station. The new plans focus on an incremental strategy which will deliver new high speed platforms (Stages A and B1). By concentrating on certain locations at a time, disruption to the area as a whole at any one time will be reduced and easier to mitigate. Construction of the hybrid Bill proposal would have meant a far more intense period of disruption for the community. In the Euston area, as with all affected areas, we will continue to look for ways to reduce the level of disruption through further design development.The incremental strategy does not preclude wider redevelopment of the station in the future (Stage B2). This will be subject to separate planning and funding decisions that will be made at an appropriate part in the process. Network Rail is preparing plans for the feasibility work of this redevelopment which will be submitted as part of its Control Period 6 (CP6) submission (which covers the period 2019-2024). These plans will include an assessment of the effects of this redevelopment, including the potential effects on local residents, businesses and rail users.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that emissions from the construction and operation of High Speed 2 will comply with air pollution mitigation measures in the new air quality plans being developed by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Mr Robert Goodwill: HS2 Ltd is working with the Local Authorities affected by the Scheme through the Environmental Health Sub-Group of the Planning Forum. These Local Authorities have responsibilities for Local Air Quality Management, and have Action Plans which feed into the air quality plans which are being consulted on by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Keir Starmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons HS2 Ltd plans to commence utility diversion and other advance works on construction compounds in July 2016 in advance of the likely date of Royal Assent for the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The High Speed Rail (Preparation) Act 2013 received Royal Assent inNovember 2013 and authorises the Secretary of State, with Treasury approval, to incur expenditure in preparation for a high speed railway transport network. Construction work will commence in 2017, with some enabling works planned for 2016, subject to necessary consents.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Keir Starmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what account he took of (a) the extended timetable of work on High Speed 2 and the increased intensity of such work compared to the original plan, (b) potential additional blight caused by rebuilding Euston station in phase B2, (c) potential additional blight caused by the construction of Crossrail 2 and (d) development work at Euston station now integral to High Speed 2 in deciding appropriate compensation to people in (i) the London Borough of Camden and (ii) other parts of London affected by High Speed 2 and Additional Provision 3.

Mr Robert Goodwill: HS2 Ltd deposited an Additional Provision (AP3) to the HS2 Phase One hybrid Bill on 16 September 2015 which includes revised plans for London Euston station. The new plans focus on an incremental strategy which will deliver new high speed platforms (Stages A and B1) and do not preclude wider redevelopment of the existing station in the future (Stage B2).By concentrating construction on certain locations at a time, disruption to the area as a whole at any one time will be reduced and easier to mitigate. Construction of the original hybrid Bill proposal would have meant a far more intense period of disruption for the community.In the Euston area, as with all affected areas, we will continue to look for ways to further reduce the level of disruption as part of the design development process.The government’s proposals for statutory and discretionary compensation for the whole of the Phase One route were announced in the “HS2 property compensation consultation 2013 for the London to West Midlands route: decision document”, published 9 April 2014 and also the “Decision Document: Property Consultation 2014 for the London–West Midlands HS2 Route”, published 16 January 2015.

Railway Stations: Repairs and Maintenance

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) funds and (b) grants his Department makes available for the refurbishment or improvement of railway stations.

Claire Perry: The Department for Transport currently operates a number of schemes that makes funds available to enhance facilities at stations.The Access for All programme and the Small Schemes fund provide improvements in accessibility. The National Stations Improvement Programme and Stations Commercial Project Facility are designed to deliver enhancements to passenger facilities. The New Station Fund has been established to help fund the construction of new stations.

Cycling

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's press release, New plans to get more people cycling, published on 16 October 2014, what the statistical basis is of the statement that around £5 was spent per head on cycling.

Mr Robert Goodwill: In the five years 2011/12 to 2015/16, the Department has increased its spend on cycling in England from £1 per head to £3 per head. Local authorities also spend significant amounts on cycling and over the same period, total spend on cycling in England has increased from £2 per head to £6 per head. Spend is over £10 per head in the eight Cycle Ambition Cities and London. 2011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16DfT spend per head£1£2£2£2£3Total spend per head£2£4£5£5£6In 2014-15, the Department’s dedicated cycling programmes were Bikeability, Cycle Ambition Cities, Cycling in National Parks and the Highways Agency’s cycling programme. The Department also funds cycling programmes through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), with 28% of the LSTF being spent on cycling.

Road Traffic: Denton and Reddish

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to bring forward work on a barrier at Thompson Close in Denton and Reddish constituency to protect residents against traffic noise.

Andrew Jones: Highways England is currently reviewing the list of sites most severely affected by noise from traffic using trunk roads and motorways in England. This is being conducted on a fair and transparent basis using criteria agreed with Highways England’s stakeholders. The section of the M60 adjacent to Thompson Close is one of 2,500 locations being reviewed. Highways England will write to the Hon. Member once the review is complete and a decision has been made about provision of a noise barrier at this location.

Railways

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the purpose of his Department's Bowe Liaison Board is; and on what dates that board has met.

Claire Perry: The purpose of The Bowe Review - Senior Liaison Board is:to provide an opportunity for engagement during the Review with key senior stakeholdersto enable a two-way communication to update key stakeholders on progress with the Review and to receive their advice on carrying out the reviewThe board has met three times during the course of the review:-24 March 201520 May 201524 June 2015

Bus Services: Schools

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many claims were made by bus operators for Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) funding for school services that were not entitled to receive BSOG support in 2014-15; and how many operators made such claims.

Andrew Jones: Operators of bus services serving educational establishments are entitled to claim BSOG for these services as long as they are also available for members of the general public to catch. However, “closed” bus services – used only by students and staff of educational establishments, and from which the wider public are excluded - are not eligible for BSOG. When it came to our attention recently that some operators may have submitted claims for closed bus services the Department wrote to all operators claiming BSOG in England reminding them of which educational services are eligible for the grant. We will take strong measures where operators claim for such ineligible services in future. Accurate figures for how many operators or routes may have claimed for closed services during 2014/15 are not readily available.

Aviation: Noise

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to create an independent aviation noise authority with a statutory right to be consulted on flight paths and other operating matters.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is currently considering the Airports Commission’s Final Report, including its recommendation for a new national independent aviation noise authority. Any decision to take forward such a body would be subject to consultation on its detailed functions.

Home Office

Interception Warrants

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many interception warrants were issued under (a) section 8(1) and (b) section 8(4) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in each day in 2014.

Mr John Hayes: Holding answer received on 14 October 2015



The Interception of Communications Commissioner publishes statistics on the number of interception warrants. The Commissioner’s report for 2014 states that the total number of warrants issued during 2014 (under both sections 8(1) and 8(4) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) was 2795.The total number of extant warrants on 31 December 2014 was 1605. Of the 1605 warrants, 20 were issued under section 8(4). As a matter of longstanding practice, we do not provide more detailed breakdowns of statistics relating to interception warrants.

Asylum: Libya

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects a decision to be made on the asylum applications from Libyan personnel formerly based at Bassingbourn Barracks.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 14 October 2015



It is long-standing Government policy not to comment on individual cases.

Asylum: Libya

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Libyan personnel formerly based at Bassingbourn Barracks and currently claiming asylum have had a (a) screening interview and (b) substantive asylum interview.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 14 October 2015



It is long-standing Government policy not to comment on individual cases.

Asylum: Libya

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any Libyan personnel formerly based at Bassingbourn Barracks and currently claiming asylum have applied for an anonymity direction.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 14 October 2015



It is long-standing Government policy not to comment on individual cases.

Travel Information: Eritrea

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the report of (a) the United Nations Office Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea, published in June 2015 and (b) the Independent Advisory Group on Country Information Eritrea, published in May 2015, was taken into account in drafting her Department's country information and guidance on Eritrea.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office considered these reports and they are reflected in the updated country information and guidance on Eritrea. This was published on 9 September and is available online. This includes reference to the IAGCI report, material taken from the UN Commission on Inquiry report on Eritrea and other relevant country information.

Visas

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times visa applications have been refused because of technicalities in each of the last four years; and how many such cases have been subject to a complaint or appeal.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office is unable to provide the information requested, as it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Visas: Eritrea

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for visitor visas have been (a) granted and (b) refused to citizens of Eritrea in each year since 2010.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is given in the attached table.The latest quarterly Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas are published in ‘Immigration Statistics, April-June 2015’, available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics



Entry clearance visitor applications resolved
(Excel SpreadSheet, 11.27 KB)

Refugees: EU Countries

Dr Tania Mathias: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the projected number of refugees eligible to travel to the UK under EU freedom of movement rules if they become naturalised citizens of other EU member states.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 14 October 2015



While the Home Office regularly monitors and analyses overall migration data to help inform policy decisions, it has not prepared forecasts of likely inflows from nationals who have been granted refugee status and may subsequently be naturalised in another EU Member State.

Driving: Licensing

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many driving licences were incorrectly revoked from people who were suspected of living illegally in the UK in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The Immigration Act 2014 only granted this power in July 2014. Since the Home Department commenced the referral of driving licences of people with no valid leave in the UK to the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) in July 2014, over 12,500 driving licences have been revoked. So far only 283 driving licences have been reinstated.

Domestic Violence

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to implement the coercive and controlling behaviour offence, as defined by the Serious Crime Act 2015; and what training the (a) police, (b) judiciary and (c) other statutory agencies will have on coercive control and the new offence.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 14 October 2015



We are aiming to introduce the offence of coercive and controlling behaviour as soon as practicable. We have been clear that before the offence can be introduced it is essential that frontline agencies receive proper training and guidance on how to use the new offence.We have been working with the College of Policing and Crown Prosecution Service to develop statutory guidance.New guidance on investigating domestic abuse was published by the College of Policing last month including coercive and controlling behaviour and new training for the police incorporating coercive control has been developed and piloted. In addition, every Police force in England and Wales has now published an action plan on domestic abuse and the College of Policing is reviewing risk assessment tools used by officers.Upon commencement of the offence, a circular will be issued, including to the Lord Chief Justice, to ensure criminal justice partners are fully aware.

Cannabis: Police Cautions

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were cautioned for possession of cannabis in each of the last 10 years.

Mike Penning: Holding answer received on 14 October 2015



The data requested can be found in the accompanying table.Offenders cautioned for possession of cannabis, England and Wales, 2005-2014(1)(2)(3)(4)Offence2005200620072008200920102011201220132014Possession of cannabis(4) 21,11720,37021,24722,82320,60918,87019,25516,98515,49312,672(1) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When an offender has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.(2) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals.(3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.(4) Data includes S.5(2) & Sch 4 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 - "Having possession of a controlled drug:- Cannabis or cannabis resin"Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.[Ref: PQc 11261]

Human Trafficking

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government's overseas posts are taking to warn women applying for entry to the UK about the dangers of sex trafficking and exploitation.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Metropolitan Police: Recruitment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were accepted onto the Metropolitan Police National Fast Track Programme in the last 12 months; and how many such people did not subsequently pass the vetting procedure and therefore did not take up their places on the programme.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Refugees: Syria

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what screening provisions the Government has put in place to prevent people who wish to cause the UK harm from entering the UK through the Syrian refugee resettlement programme.

James Brokenshire: We take security extremely seriously in cases referred to us for resettlement, working closely with the UNHCR who have their own robust identification processes in place. When potential cases are submitted by the UNHCR for our consideration they are screened and considered by the Home Office for suitability for entry to the UK: we retain the right to reject individuals on security, war crimes or other grounds. For reasons of national security, we cannot provide further on the details of the screening process itself.

College of Policing: Saudi Arabia

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to publish the details of commercial arrangements with and training offered by the College of Policing to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Mike Penning: Holding answer received on 15 October 2015



The College of Policing sets standards of practice and is the professional body for those working in policing. In common with other organisations, the College does not routinely publish details of commercial contracts and has no plans to do so. In relation to international assistance, the College works closely with the Home Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other partners across government. It provides as much information as possible under the Freedom of Information Act, including the total income it has received from international activity.

Charities: Islam

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will meet representatives of the British Muslim charities sector to discuss concerns about the level of prejudice and unfair stigmatisation they may encounter in the course of their work; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 15 October 2015



Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations and individuals. Details of these meetings are published on the Cabinet Office website on a quarterly basis.I would be happy to consider further engagement as appropriate.

Visas: Applications

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visa applications to her Department's super premium service have been rejected in the last 12 months.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Slavery

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) slavery and trafficking prevention orders and (b) slavery and trafficking risk orders have been (i) applied for and (ii) granted since the coming into force of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Karen Bradley: Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders (STPO) and Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders (STRO) under the Modern Slavery Act were commenced on 31 July 2015. The police, NCA and Home Office Immigration Enforcement may apply to a Magistrates Court for both types of order. Courts may make a STPO when sentencing an individual for a slavery or human trafficking offence. Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service provides quarterly statistics on applications for all types of orders and information has been published for the period up to June 2015. Information on applications for STPOs and STROs since 31 July 2015 will be published in the next issue of data covering the period July – September 2015.

Stansted Airport: Immigration Controls

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many days any of the ePassport gates at Stansted Airport were not fully functioning at any point during the months of June, July, August and September 2015.

James Brokenshire: It is not possible to make available how many ePassport Gates were not fully functioning at Stansted Airport during the months of June, July, August and September 2015 on account of security considerations.

London Airports: Immigration Controls

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many ePassport gates are in operation at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports.

James Brokenshire: ePassport Gates are in operation at many ports across the UK. At present there are (a) thirty five operating across Heathrow, (b) twenty at Gatwick, (c) ten at Luton, and (d) fifteen at Stansted.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Arms Trade: Human Rights

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the sale of arms manufactured by UK companies to governments which have committed human rights abuses.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: This Government supports a responsible defence and security industry that helps meet the legitimate defence needs of other states, and contributes to their security and law and order. We take our arms export responsibilities very seriously and we operate one of the most rigorous and transparent arms export control regimes in the world. All defence and dual-use exports are required to meet the UK’s strict export control legislation and adhere to the UK international commitments including international treaties and obligations. Each application for an export licence is subject to rigorous case-by-case assessment against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Risks around human rights violations are a key part of our assessment.

Palestinians

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Palestinian Authority on introducing legislation to abolish the death penalty.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Government opposes all use of the death penalty as a matter of principle, including sentences imposed by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. I have asked that my officials in Jerusalem raise the issue of the death penalty with the Palestinian Authority in due course.

Arms Trade: Treaties

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote universalisation and implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK encourages States not party to the ATT to accede to it as soon as possible. A first step towards universalisation was enabling full participation by interested states in the ATT First Conference of States Parties (CSP1) in August 2015. To that end, the UK contributed £150,000 towards the sponsoring of developing States to attend CSP1.We are also funding projects totalling approximately £276,000 which are focused on effective ATT implementation and universalisation. In addition, the UK supports efforts by the UN and EU to provide technical assistance to states looking to accede to or implement the ATT.

Palestinians: Prisoners

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to stop UK funding being used to pay the wages of convicted terrorists from the Palestinian Territories in custody in Israeli prisons.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: No UK money is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The UK’s direct financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is used to pay the salaries of PA public sector workers only. Our support is provided through a World Bank trust fund which carries out close monitoring of PA expenditure. The whole process is independently audited, which means we know exactly how our money is spent. We also have robust accounting procedures in place which mean we are confident that our funds do not benefit terrorist groups, and we ensure that our partners do the same.

Occupied Territories

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice or guidance the Government provides on the potential risks associated with investing in or conducting business with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: In December 2013, we placed advice online to raise awareness of the key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating abroad, including in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This includes guidance on Israeli settlements (www.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-palestinian-territories)We advise British businesses to bear in mind the British Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering investments and activities in the region. This is voluntary guidance to British businesses. It is the decision of an individual or company whether to operate in settlements in the Occupied Territories, but the British Government would neither encourage nor support such activity.

Palestinians

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) over 95,000 people have now been able to buy materials to repair homes that were damaged during the conflict. However, we are concerned that none of the homes destroyed have been rebuilt yet. We therefore welcome the June 2015 agreement between the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities on the Residential Stream of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism to support the reconstruction of homes that were completely destroyed. DFID is providing £700,000 to the Materials Monitoring Unit which monitors the import, storage, supply and use of construction materials into Gaza under the GRM. The UK is also calling on all donors to disburse pledges made at the October 2014 Cairo Gaza Reconstruction Conference without delay.

Israel: Palestinians

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the demolition of the Samra School in Khirbeit Samra on 20 August 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Whilst we have not raised this particular demolition with Israel, our position is clear; demolitions cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; are harmful to the peace process; and are, in all but the most exceptional of cases, contrary to international humanitarian law.We regularly raise the issue of demolitions with our Israeli counterparts. For example on 24 September, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Israel raised demolitions with Israel's Justice Minister Shaked and on 10 September the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (David Cameron), and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Runnymead and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised this issue with Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ali Mohammed al-Nimr

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the death sentence handed out to Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are very concerned about the case of Ali Mohammed Al Nimr. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised this case with the Saudi Arabian authorities at a senior level. We will continue to follow this case closely. The UK opposes the death penalty in all cases. Ministers, our Ambassador, and the Embassy team frequently raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the European Union.

Saudi Arabia: Religious Freedom

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure Saudi Arabia ceases its persecution of Christians and other religious minorities.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The British Government strongly supports the right to freedom of religion or belief.The public practice in Saudi Arabia of any form of religion other than Islam is illegal, however, the Saudi authorities do accept foreign workers privately practising religions other than Islam. These restrictions on freedom of religion or belief reflect widely held conservative social values in Saudi society.Our position on human rights in Saudi Arabia is a matter of public record. We have regularly made our views known, including through the UN Universal Periodic Review process and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual Human Rights and Democracy Report, in which Saudi Arabia continues to be a designated priority country. We raise our human rights concerns with the Saudi Arabian authorities using a range of Ministerial and diplomatic channels of communication.

Ali Mohammed al-Nimr

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent the execution of Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are very concerned about the case of Ali Mohammed Al Nimr. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised this case with the Saudi Arabian authorities at a senior level. We will continue to follow this case closely. The UK opposes the death penalty in all cases. Ministers, our Ambassador, and the Embassy team frequently raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the European Union.

Palestinians

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism in enabling the construction and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) over 95,000 people have now been able to buy materials to repair homes that were damaged during the conflict. However, we are concerned that none of the homes destroyed have been rebuilt yet. We therefore welcome the June 2015 agreement between the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities on the Residential Stream of the GRM to support the reconstruction of homes that were completely destroyed. DFID is providing £700,000 to the Materials Monitoring Unit which monitors the import, storage, supply and use of construction materials into Gaza under the GRM. The UK is also calling on all donors to disburse pledges made at the October 2014 Cairo Gaza Reconstruction Conference without delay.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he is holding at the UN on a possible Security Council resolution on the establishment of safe zones in Syria.

Mr Philip Hammond: The Government is providing £1.1billion in humanitarian aid to displaced Syrians and is considering ways in which it can help protect civilians in Syria and will continue to do so. Safe zones in Syria would be a difficult and complex option, that would require significant military resource, and for which there is currently no Parliamentary support in the UK. At the international level, Security Council members continue to discuss a range of humanitarian responses to the conflict in Syria, but there is no agreement so far. There is currently no prospect of passing a credible resolution in the Security Council as Russia has indicated that it would veto any resolution that did not have the support of the Syrian regime.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he is holding at the UN on a possible Security Council resolution authorising the use of force against ISIL/Daesh in Syria.

Mr Philip Hammond: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Islamic State

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of coalition air strikes on (a) the extent of the territory held by ISIL/Daesh and (b) that group's capacity to advance in (i) Iraq and (ii) Syria.

Mr Philip Hammond: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the role played by access to natural resources across Iraq and Syria in the ongoing conflict in those countries; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Natural resources are a factor in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria. Oil is one of ISIL’s main sources of revenue. The UK has played a key role in efforts to limit ISIL’s access to revenue sources, such as by supporting UN Security Council Resolutions 2177 and 2199 and working with international partners to ensure those resolutions are enforced. ISIL control of territory along the Euphrates river valley in both Iraq and Syria is affecting water levels in the region, exacerbating the humanitarian situations in Iraqi and Syria. The UK Government remains committed to defeating ISIL and to ending the wider conflict in Syria through a political transition away from the Assad regime.

Gaza: Reconstruction

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism with officals from Israel's Ministry of Defence on 17 September. We regularly urge the Israeli Government to intensify measures to support Gaza’s reconstruction and economic development. On 10 September, during Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to the UK the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (David Cameron), and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Runnymead and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), emphasised the importance of improving daily life for the people of Gaza, for example through better power and water supplies and facilitating exports from Gaza.

Russia: Foreign Policy

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the aims and objectives are of the Government's policy towards Russia.

Mr David Lidington: The Government’s objectives in respect of Russia are to protect UK interests and those of our allies and partners; to engage with Russia on global security issues and in key areas of shared interest; to promote our values, including the rule of law and human rights; and to build stronger links between the British and Russian people more widely.This means that we are focused on: keeping the pressure on Russia to adhere to its international obligations; supporting Ukraine and the implementation of the Minsk agreements; persuading Russia to concentrate efforts on tackling ISIL and finding a political solution in Syria; promoting UK prosperity via trade links within the constraints of sanctions; and encouraging cooperation in education, culture and science, e.g. through the British Council-led Year of English Language and Literature in Russia in 2016.

Israel: Export Controls

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to pages three and four of the United Kingdom Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2014, whether the policy regarding Israel as of the end of 2014 remains in place.

Mr Philip Hammond: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Attorney General

Syria: Military Intervention

Catherine West: To ask the Attorney General, what the full legal basis was for the RAF drone attack carried out in Syria on 21 August 2015; if he will arrange publication of the original legal guidance on which the decision to carry out the attack was made; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the questions from the Hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion on the 12th of October 2015: (http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-09-16/10466/

Trials

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to reduce the time court cases take to reach a conclusion.

Robert Buckland: I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the oral question from the Hon. Member for Corby earlier today.

Prosecutions

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney General, how many Deferred Prosecution Agreements the Serious Fraud Office is currently negotiating; and what recent progress has been made in each of those negotiations.

Jeremy Wright: I refer the Hon.Member to the answer given by the Solicitor General to question 2337 on 17 June 2015.

Proceeds of Crime

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney General, what the total value was of the proceeds of crime retained by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) under the ARIS incentive scheme in each financial year since 2012-13; and what proportion of the annual SFO budget this formed in each case.

Robert Buckland: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was part of the Home Office Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme from 2006-07 until 2012-13.The SFO retained £2,027,171 in the year 2012-13, this represented 5% of the gross Departmental Expenditure Limit for the SFO for that year.Since then, all monies due to the SFO under ARIS (£7,775 for 2013-14, and £3,051,434 for 2014-15) are paid to HM Treasury.

Serious Fraud Office: Finance

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney General, how many requests for blockbuster funding were made by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14, (e) 2014-15 and (f) 2015-16 to date; how much funding was requested on each such occasion for which investigations; what proportion of the SFO's annual budget such blockbuster funding represented in each of those years; and on how many occasions such funding requests were not approved in each of those years.

Robert Buckland: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has a core budget to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute the most serious and complex cases of fraud, bribery and corruption, and some exceptionally large cases will arise that require additional resources.Where this is the case, the additional funding which is commonly referred to as ‘blockbuster funding’ is allocated as part of the Main and Supplementary Estimates processes. Therefore, the additional funding has been approved as part of this process each year.The table below shows the SFO’s total net Departmental Expenditure Limit for each year since 2010-11, and the amount of this which was blockbuster funding in each year. 2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-16Total budget£36.9m£33.2m£40.8m£53.6m£57.7m£43.8m*‘Blockbuster’ funding£2.8m£0£6.7m£24m£25.2m£10m to date* This is the figure from the Main Estimate for 2015-16 and so may be revised as part of the Supplementary Estimates process.The figures in the table do not include capital expenditure or Annually Managed Expenditure, or any income from costs awards or other recoveries. The blockbuster funding during this period also includes support for civil litigation costs relating to the investigation into Kaupthing.As has been explained in response to previous questions from Members, it is not appropriate to provide a breakdown of the funding allocated to each SFO investigation.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Arms Trade: Exports

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on the Government continuing to sign off arms export licenses for those countries identified as a cause for concern by the Committees on Arms Export Controls and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Government takes its export responsibilities very seriously and aims to operate one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. Government policy is enshrined in the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, known as the Consolidated Criteria. We rigorously examine every application on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated Criteria and will only issue an export licence where to do so would be consistent with these criteria.We undertake appropriate checks using both open and other sources when considering licence applications. To ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach, this will involve Desk and Post in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and relevant experts from other Departments.

Apprentices: North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeships are available in the North East; and how many applicants for such apprenticeships from disadvantaged backgrounds (a) secured and (b) completed apprenticeships in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Boles: Information on the number of apprenticeship starts (first link) and achievements (second link) in the North East is published online at the FE Data Library:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/438150/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xlshttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/378238/apprenticeships-achievements-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xlsWe do not centrally collect information on the number of apprenticeship applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds who secure and complete an apprenticeship.

Flexible Working: Parents

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of evidence from research on the extent to which working parents may wish to work more flexibly, but are deterred from making a formal flexible working request for fear of negative consequences; and what steps he plans to take to improve take-up of the right to request flexible working.

Nick Boles: The paper referred to provides interim research results on potential pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination and disadvantage in the workplace. The research commissioned in 2014 by Government was jointly managed and funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, supported by the Government Equalities Office. This is the largest ever study of pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination conducted in Great Britain. Interim findings were published in July 2015 and can be found at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publication/pregnancy-and-maternity-related-discrimination-and-disadvantage-first-findings-surveys-employers-and-0.The final results, due to be published later this year, will inform the Government’s response.

Arms Trade: Yemen

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that arms exports from the UN to Yemen are not being used in breach of export control policy and provisions of the Arms Trade Treaty.

Anna Soubry: The Government takes its export responsibilities very seriously and aims to operate one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. We rigorously examine every application on a case-by-case basis against all of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, which includes; ensuing exports are consistent with the UK’s obligations under the United Nations arms trade treaty.We undertake appropriate checks using both open and other sources when considering licence applications. To ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach, this will involve Desk and Post in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and relevant experts from other Departments.

Regional Growth Fund

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 22 September 2015 to Question 9932, what total amount of funding was not drawn down by beneficiaries by mutual agreement under each round of the Regional Growth Fund.

Anna Soubry: The table below sets out the amount of funding not drawn down by beneficiaries, by mutual agreement, under the Regional Growth Fund.The table covers Rounds 1 to 3 of the Fund. Round 4 of the Fund is still being concluded and subsequent rounds of the Fund are ongoing with many of the beneficiaries still within their payment periods.RoundAmount (£)117,591,795228,128,222327,031,650

Apprentices

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department's target of three million apprenticeship starts by 2020 includes people starting more than one apprenticeship during that time period.

Nick Boles: Individuals may start more than one apprenticeship as they progress to a higher level or learn new skills. Unsurprisingly, one apprenticeship start is counted for each apprenticeship that is started.

Apprentices

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeship applications have been (a) made and (b) accepted in the last 12 months; and how many such applications were from people who have served a prison sentence.

Nick Boles: Information on the number of apprenticeship applications made through the find an apprenticeship website in the last 12 months is published online (first link) at the FE Data Library (second link). This does not include applications made to vacancies which are advertised on an employer's own website.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/466540/AVNumberOfApplicationsbyAgeGenderEthnicitySSALevelOct15.xlshttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-apprenticeship-vacanciesWe do not centrally collect information on the number of applications that are made and accepted from people who have served a prison sentence.

Brain: Tumours

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much was spent by the Economic and Social Research Council on research into brain tumours in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15.

Joseph Johnson: The Economic and Social Research Council has not commissioned research into brain tumours from 2012 to 2015.Researchers are eligible to apply for grants from all seven of the UK Research Councils, funding is awarded to support excellent research driven by both researcher curiosity (responsive mode grants) and strategic priorities (managed mode grants).

Brain: Tumours

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much was spent by the Medical Research Council on research into brain tumours in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15.

Joseph Johnson: Medical Research Council spend on research into brain tumours in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 is provided below.YearBrain Tumour Research (including Brain & Pituitary Tumours) 2012/13£2.16M2013/14£2.56M2014/15£2.81M

Department for International Development

Palestinians

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding the UK provides for sports development in schools in the Palestinian territories.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK provided £349 million in support of Palestinian development between 2011-2015. DFID’s bilateral Palestinian programme supports UK Government objectives of a two-state solution and is structured around three key areas; helping the Palestinian Authority to build strong institutions and deliver essential services, promoting private sector growth to stimulate the economy, and providing humanitarian assistance and support to the vulnerable. The UK does not specifically fund sports development in schools in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPTs). Further details on DFID’s support to the OPTs can be found here: http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/countries/PS/projects/.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when her Department plans to publish its health system strengthening framework.

Grant Shapps: In the government response to the International Development Committee’s report on Strengthening Health Systems in Developing Countries, DFID proposed to develop a framework for future work on health systems. DFID is developing the framework in consultation with the Department of Health and other UK institutions. DFID is due to update the Committee on progress against its recommendations, including the health systems strengthening framework, in November 2015.

Department for International Development: Pressure Groups

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had with representatives of (i) the Taxpayers' Alliance, (ii) the Confederation of British Industry, (iii) the Institute of Economic Affairs, (iv) the Adam Smith Institute, (v) the Freedom Association, (vi) the Politics and Economics Research Trust and (vii) the Midlands Industrial Council in the last 12 months.

Mr Desmond Swayne: Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published up to 31 March 2015 and can be accessed on Gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications.Further publications of Ministerial meetings will be published in due course.

Palestinians

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department has given to the reconstruction of infrastructure in Gaza in the last five years.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK provided £349 million in support of Palestinian development between 20112015. This includes support for Gaza, the West Bank and Palestinian refugees throughout the region.In Gaza, DFID support has funded the construction of 13 schools. Following the 2014 Gaza conflict, the UK provided £17 million of immediate humanitarian assistance and pledged a further £20 million of early recovery assistance at the 2014 Cairo Gaza Reconstruction conference. DFID has already disbursed all of the Cairo pledge including £0.7 million to the Materials Monitoring Unit, which oversees and monitors the import, storage and supply of construction materials into Gaza under the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism. DFID will exceed the Cairo pledge over the coming months, as residual funds are disbursed on rejuvenating business and boosting the economy in Gaza.

Palestinians

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with her international partners on the effectiveness of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID is supporting the temporary Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) to facilitate the import of construction materials into Gaza. We are providing £0.7 million to the Materials Monitoring Unit which oversees and monitors the import, storage and supply of construction materials into Gaza under the GRM. We welcome the June 2015 agreement between the Israeli and Palestinian authorities creating the Residential Stream of the GRM to allow imports of building materials into Gaza for the reconstruction of homes that were completely destroyed. Progress is being made with over 4,200 beneficiaries participating and almost 2,000 having bought construction material. The UK continues to call on international partners to disburse their pledges made at the October 2014 Cairo Gaza Reconstruction Conference without delay so that the pace of reconstruction in Gaza can increase. In addition, we continue to lobby the Israeli authorities to lift restrictions on movement and access as part of a political agreement, which is the only long-term solution for reconstruction in Gaza.

Palestinians

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect in Gaza on (a) reconstruction and (b) the production of doors and furniture of the recent decision by the Israeli government to reduce the thickness of wood that can be imported into Gaza without prior approval to 1cm.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID is aware of the issue of restrictions on the import of wood into Gaza and senior DFID officials have raised it with the Government of Israel at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meeting in September this year. We support calls to ease the number of items on the dual use list whilst recognising Israel’s legitimate security concerns about the use of materials for the manufacture of weapons. We urge Israel to make the process of listing materials as dual use more transparent and in line with internationally recognised dual use items. In the interim, DFID funding to the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism is helping to ensure that construction materials reach Gaza.

Israel: Palestinians

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to her Israeli counterparts on reducing bureaucratic procedures around the import of construction materials into Gaza.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK government has consistently called on the Government of Israel to ease movement and access restrictions into and out of Gaza, including in a recent visit by the Minister of State for International Development. DFID officials also raised the issue of import restrictions on construction materials into Gaza with Israeli counterparts at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) in September this year. The UK welcomed the June 2015 agreement between the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities on the Residential Stream of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM), to allow imports of building materials into Gaza for the reconstruction of homes that were completely destroyed. Whilst this is a step in the right direction, we will continue to push for a durable solution in Gaza that will; address Israel’s legitimate security concerns, allow the opening up of movement and access and support the return of the Palestinian Authority.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of (a) the level of humanitarian need and (b) access for the provision of humanitarian support in Yemen.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The humanitarian situation in Yemen is now one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. According to the UN, 21 million Yemenis - more than 80% of the population - are in need of humanitarian assistance. Of those, over 6 million people are facing severe food shortages, with households struggling to meet their daily needs. In particular, 1.8 million children require access to life-saving nutrition services. In Hodeidah city alone, UNICEF have warned that 96,000 severely malnourished children are at risk of dying.The UK is one of the largest donors to the crisis in Yemen and has announced £75 million to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, focused on the most urgent life-saving needs. UK aid is providing vital medical supplies, water, food and emergency shelter, as well as supporting UN work to co-ordinate the international humanitarian response.The conflict has resulted in restrictions on imports of commercial and humanitarian supplies to Yemen and intense fighting on the ground, which has severely constrained access and limited the operational capacity of humanitarian partners across the country. The UK continues to call on all parties to the conflict to facilitate unimpeded and immediate humanitarian access to all people in need in Yemen, and to lift any restrictions on commercial and humanitarian shipping, including of fuel for civilian use.

Department for Education

Educational Visits: Theatre

Ben Howlett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the uptake of school theatre visits.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education does not collect data on the uptake of school theatre visits. Teachers and head teachers are in the best position to use their professional judgement to decide how theatre visits and similar activities meet the needs of their pupils, and to plan lessons and use their budgets accordingly.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Taking Part 2014/15 Annual Child Report published in July 2015 shows that almost all children aged 5-15 (98.1%) had engaged with the arts in the preceding year. Figures are available in the DCMS Taking Part 2014/15 Annual Child Report published in July 2015 online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447730/Taking_Part_2014_15_Child_Report__Repaired_.pdfThe government recognises the importance of cultural education. That is why we are supporting Arts Council England’s Cultural Education Challenge, which calls for arts and cultural organisations together with the education sector to offer consistent cultural education to all children and young people.

Free School Meals

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to assist disadvantaged children by the provision of free school meals.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on free school meals for children aged between four and seven.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The government recognises the benefits of providing a healthy school meal to the most disadvantaged children. Children in England who receive, or whose parents receive, specified benefits[1] are entitled to receive free school meals. Free meals were also extended to disadvantaged students in further education institutions from September 2014.Since 1 September 2014, state-funded schools in England have been required by law to provide free lunches to all pupils in reception, year one or year two.The provision of universal infant free school meals was a commitment in the Conservative Party Manifesto.[1] Income Support (IS); Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA); an income-related employment and support allowance; support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) with an annual income, as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), that does not exceed £16,190; the guarantee element of State Pension Credit; or Universal Credit. Where a parent is entitled to Working Tax Credit run-on - the payment someone receives for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit -their children are entitled to free school meals.

Schools: Admissions

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will (a) issue new guidance and (b) amend the school admissions code to give parents of multiple birth children the right to insist their children are not split up across different schools or classes within the same school.

Nick Gibb: The School Admissions Code already allows schools to admit multiple birth siblings as exceptions to the infant class size limit so that these children can be educated at the same school.Once children have been admitted to school, it is for individual schools to make decisions about matters of internal organisation of classes, including how children should be split between classes in a year group with two or more forms. We would expect schools to take into account the views of parents in making such decisions.

Regional Schools Commissioners: Business Interests

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what requirements there are on schools commissioners to (a) declare and (b) publish professional and financial interests.

Nick Gibb: Regional Schools Commissioners are civil servants and are bound by the same rules on the declaration and publication of professional and financial interests as all other civil servants of a similar grade. Regional Schools Commissioners are required to declare any professional or business interest within the past five years, which may, or may be seen as, influencing their judgement in performing their role.The Department for Education keeps a register of all declared interests for the Regional Schools Commissioners. This register is reviewed on a quarterly basis and published online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/schools-commissioners-group/about/our-governance

Department for Education: Pressure Groups

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what meetings her Department has had with representatives of (a) the Taxpayers' Alliance, (b) the Confederation of British Industry, (c) the Institute of Economic Affairs, (d) the Adam Smith Institute, (e) the Freedom Association, (f) the Politics and Economic Research Trust and (g) the Midlands Industrial Council in the last 12 months.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.The Department publishes information about Ministers’ meetings with external organisations on GOV.UK and will publish data from the last 12 months in due course.

Basic Skills: Assessments

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what average scores are required to achieve Level 4 in (a) reading and (b) mathematics.

Nick Gibb: Information on the point score equivalent of a Level 4 in all KS2 subjects in 2014 can be found at the following link: www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/primary_14/KS2_2014_point_score.docx

Primary Education: Free School Meals

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much schools have spent renovating, replacing or installing new kitchen equipment prior to the introduction of the universal infant free school meals programme.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have renovated, replaced or installed new kitchen equipment in order to comply with the universal infant free school meals programme.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government has provided significant support for schools to improve kitchen and dining room facilities for their infant pupils. We have allocated £184.5 million capital funding in total specifically for this purpose, and an additional £32.5 million UIFSM funding to support small schools in improving their infant meal provision, which can be used to purchase equipment or fund minor capital works.

Primary Education: Free School Meals

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many additional pupils have become eligible for free school meals in (a) the North East and (b) Easington constituency since the introduction of the universal infant free school meals programme.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many additional pupils have become eligible for free school meals since the introduction of the universal infant free school meals programme.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Based on information collected by the Department for Education in the January 2015 school census, 1,616,154 infant pupils in England, 69,381 infant pupils in the North East and 2,037 infant pupils in the parliamentary constituency of Easington were entitled to universal infant free school meals. These figures exclude infant pupils who were entitled to free school meals because their parents or carers were in receipt of qualifying benefits.

Free School Meals

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the annual cost is of providing free school meals on schools; and what proportion of this sum is spent on universal infant free school meals.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Department for Education does not hold information on the annual cost of providing benefits-based free school meals (FSM). It allocates the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to local authorities on a per pupil basis. Local authorities distribute DSG to schools on the basis of a local formula, in which FSM can be used as a proxy for deprivation. It is then for schools to decide how to use their budget, including how much to allocate to pay for benefits-based free school meals.

GCSE

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what score an entrant needed to achieve to be awarded a C grade in each GCSE paper in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education does not hold the requested information.

GCSE

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of GCSE A to C grades achieved in each of the last three years were C grades.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is published in Table 11 of the “Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: statistical first release” series [1], [2], [3].[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2013-to-2014[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-academic-year-2011-to-2012

GCSE

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools offer elementary GCSEs where C is the highest possible grade.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education does not hold the requested information.

Free School Meals

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to (a) remove free school meals for children in primary school and (b) alter the provision of free school meals for children under the compulsory school age in England and Wales.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The continuation of universal infant free school meals was a commitment in the Conservative Party’s election manifesto. The government is currently conducting a Spending Review across all its programmes in England.Policy on free school meals in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government.

Primary Education: Free School Meals

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of providing free school meals for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils since the launch of the free school meals scheme.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Department for Education allocated £1 billion for the provision of universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) between 2014-16 financial years. In addition, we have allocated £184.5 million of capital to enable schools to improve their kitchen and dining facilities, and £32.5 million in transitional funding for small schools.

Primary Education: Free School Meals

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the continued provision of free school meals for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The continuation of universal infant free school meals was a commitment in the Conservative Party’s election manifesto. The government is currently conducting a Spending Review across all its programmes.

Free School Meals

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of free school meals provided in each month since 2 September 2014; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Department for Education does not hold the information requested. It collects data on free school meals taken by eligible pupils at one point in the year – the January school census day. The department publishes the underlying data in our statistical first release (Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics 2015) which can be found online at:www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015

Schools: Special Educational Needs

Robert Jenrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many special schools were rebuilt between 2010 and 2014; and what the average cost was of each such construction excluding land.

Edward Timpson: Between 2010 and 2014 the Department for Education provided £10 billion in capital funding to local authorities and academies for the purpose of providing enough school places and maintaining existing school buildings. It is for responsible bodies to decide which projects they invest this money in, including rebuilds, and we therefore do not hold data centrally about the number of and average cost of special school rebuilds carried out with this funding.The Department for Education does directly manage the delivery of the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) and Free Schools Programme both of which build special schools.The PSBP was launched in 2012 to address the needs of the schools in the worst condition across the country. Through the PSBP, 18 special schools are being rebuilt. By 31 Dec 2014, two of the schools within the programme had been rebuilt at a cost of £5.6 million and £5.9 million (including VAT). So far this year (2015) a further nine schools in this category have been rebuilt at a cost of £62 million (including VAT). The remaining seven schools are all in construction. PSBP is worth £4.4 billion.

Ministry of Justice

Bill of Rights: Public Consultation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to ensure that civil society and members of the public are able to contribute to a consultation on a British Bill of Rights.

Dominic Raab: The Justice Secretary told the Justice Select Committee in oral evidence on 17 July that the government would "stick to the government's current practice on consultations".

Prisoners: Numeracy

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent representations he has received from (a) charities, (b) educational organisations and (c) inmates on innumeracy rates in prisons.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he plans to take to tackle innumeracy in prisons.

Andrew Selous: Since coming into office, I have received a large volume of correspondence and representations from individuals and organisations relating to education in prisons, much of which references both numeracy and literacyWe are committed to improving education in prisons including numeracy, this is why we have introduced mandatory assessment of Maths and English for all newly received prisoners. The Secretary of State for Justice announced on 8th September a review of the quality of education in prisons, chaired by Dame Sally Coates. The review will examine the scope, quality and effectiveness of current provision. It will consider the scope and range of the current curricula and identify the most effective teaching and delivery models. Stakeholders are being consulted and a Call for Evidence has been issued. The review is expected to report in the spring of 2016. A copy of the terms of reference are lodged in the library of the House and at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-prison-education-terms-of-reference

London Community Rehabilitation Company: Vacancies

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many posts at which levels are vacant in the London Community Rehabilitation Company.

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many weeks training is provided by each community rehabilitation company  to new employees who will be responsible for a caseload.

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance has been provided to community rehabilitation companies on job titles for employees who are not qualified probation officers who are managing offenders.

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what training is provided by each community rehabilitation company to new employees who will be managing female offenders.

Andrew Selous: Since they transitioned to new owners on 1 February 2015, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) have been contractually required to maintain a professional and appropriately skilled workforce to deliver the services set out in their contracts. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) does not currently maintain data relating to posts and staffing levels in CRCsCRCs are responsible for their own staff training needs, such as for managing female offenders. As part of their bids, the new owners were required to put forward plans to ensure female offenders are properly supported. Similarly, it is for CRCs to decide on appropriate job titles for their staffThe MoJ closely monitors the performance of CRCs, in line with government standards, to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending and deliver value for money to the taxpayer.

Ministry of Justice: Legal Opinion

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest day rate paid for external legal advice by his Department was in each year since 2010.

Mr Shailesh Vara: To obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Personation

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to make identity theft a criminal offence.

Mike Penning: Where a person steals somebody’s identity documents and/or uses somebody else’s identity to access a bank account or to make some other kind of financial gain, he or she can already be prosecuted under existing theft and fraud offences. We have no plans to create additional offences.

Foreign Relations: Saudi Arabia

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to publish the Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signed in September 2014.

Andrew Selous: The Information Commissioner’s Office has upheld the decision not to publish this Memorandum of Understanding. That correspondence can be found here: https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/decision-notices/2015/1432375/fs_50579089.pdf.

Human Rights

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress the Government has  made on developing proposals for reform of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Dominic Raab: This Government will fully consult on our proposals, this session, before introducing legislation for a British Bill of Rights. Further details will be announced in due course.

Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

Electoral Register

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of its performance in ensuring the accuracy of the electoral register during the 2015 General Election.

Mr Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission does not maintain the electoral registers, which is the statutory duty of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and their teams. The Electoral Commission issues guidance to EROs about how to deliver both well run elections and public awareness campaigns to make sure voters are aware of when and how to register to vote. The Commission also runs its own public awareness campaigns to remind people to register to vote and to support the activity of EROs. During its campaign before the 2015 General Election there were 1,561,093 additions to the electoral registers, as detailed in its campaign evaluation report.In June 2015 the Electoral Commission published its assessment of the progress with transition to Individual Electoral Registration (IER). An updated version of this assessment was recently laid in the House Library amending a small number of typographical errors found in background figures, none of which affected the findings of the assessment or the Commission’s advice.The Commission’s June IER assessment did not include an estimate of levels of accuracy and completeness of the registers. The Commission’s last report on this was published in 2014. The June report did note, however, that activities such as the introduction of IER and the introduction of online registration are likely to have had a positive impact on accuracy and completeness. However, it was also clear that others will have had a negative effect, such as the lack of comprehensive household canvassing activity in 2014.The Electoral Commission has made clear that it does not support the Government’s decision to bring forward the end of the transition to IER to 1 December 2015 and has noted instead that this should remain as 1 December 2016, as Parliament originally decided. However, should Parliament approve the Government’s order to bring forward the end of the transition, the Commission will continue to monitor the state of the registers and will collect further data from EROs focusing on the 2015 canvass and the December 2015 register.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Pressure Groups

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what meetings his Department has had with representatives of (a) the Taxpayers' Alliance, (b) the Confederation of British Industry, (c) the Institute of Economic Affairs, (d) the Adam Smith Institute, (e) the Freedom Association, (f) the Politics and Economic Research Trust and (g) the Midlands Industrial Council in the last 12 months.

Michael Fallon: None.

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on the future of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency at Ashchurch near Tewkesbury; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: As my hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Procurement (Philip Dunne), stated in the House on 8 June 2015 (Official Report, column 892), the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has signed a land sale development partnership contract for the redevelopment of the Ashchurch site. We anticipate commencing the transfer of the site to our development partner, Vinci St Modwen, in phases beginning in 2018.Transfer of the site is dependent on the MOD re-providing certain capabilities, which are currently located at Ashchurch, to other locations. This includes capabilities managed on behalf of the Department by Babcock following their acquisition of the Defence Support Group. Assessment studies are under way and recommendations are expected in summer 2016. We continue to regularly engage with Trades Union representatives to inform them of progress.



Defence Storage and Distribution Agency
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Bahrain: Military Exercises

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) assets and (b) personnel of his Department took part in Exercise Pearl Dagger in conjunction with the Bahraini armed forces.

Penny Mordaunt: One Royal Fleet Auxiliary Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) - Cardigan Bay, with two Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP) and six Inflatable Raiding Craft, along with 104 Royal Marines took part in Exercise Pearl Dagger.

Department for Work and Pensions

Jobseeker's Allowance: Wrexham

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for jobseeker's allowance were made in Wrexham (a) by telephone and (b) online in each of the last 24 months.

Priti Patel: The information requested is not available.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to commission an independent review of the benefits and sanctions regime.

Priti Patel: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 June 2015 to Question UIN 170.

Children: Day Care

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government about the availability of childcare for children of parents who (a) work outside the hours of 9am to 5pm and (b) live in rural communities.

Priti Patel: Childcare is a devolved matter. There have therefore been no discussions with the Welsh Government about the availability of childcare in Wales.

Employment: Parents

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with Jobcentre Plus regarding the need for additional (a) training and (b) guidance to support vulnerable parents to transition into work.

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the (a) capacity and (b) skills of Jobcentre Plus staff to provide appropriate support to disadvantaged parents.

Priti Patel: The support available to vulnerable and disadvantaged claimants is tailored to meet their individual needs, helping to overcome barriers that might make finding a job more difficult.Jobcentre Plus staff are provided with the skills and knowledge required to support a range of claimants with a diverse set of circumstances, and to respect each individual’s needs.Each member of staff works with their line manager to assess their individual skills and ensure they deliver high levels of competence and professionalism, including identifying additional training needs.This approach encourages continuous improvement and skills growth to meet the full range of customer needs.

Disability: Government Assistance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that disabled people are given appropriate support to lead an active and independent lifestyle.

Justin Tomlinson: This Government has an ambitious vision for disabled people, which is set out in our cross-government disability strategy: Fulfilling Potential which we published in 2013.Fulfilling Potential aims to remove the barriers that disabled people face to enable them to fulfil their potential, live independently and have equal opportunities to play a full and active role in society.We developed our approach with disabled people and it reflects what they have said is important to bring about the changes that will have a real and lasting impact on their day-to-day lives.As part of our approach we are committed to continuing to provide support for those disabled people who need it, whilst enabling those who can work to do so. We continue to spend around £50 billion on services and benefits for disabled people. We are committed to halving the disability employment gap and over the last year, we have seen disability employment increase by over 226,000.

Employment and Support Allowance

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 2.115 of the Summer Budget 2015, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of a four-year freeze on employment and support allowance on people with long-term disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel: The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on 20th July. These are available on the Parliament website.http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/welfarereformandwork/documents.html

Social Mobility

Phil Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, Downward mobility, opportunity hoarding and the glass floor, published in June 2015, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of that report's findings that relatively high levels of income inequality are a contributing factor to why social mobility in the UK is relatively low by international standards and has not increased in the past 40 years.

Priti Patel: This Government is committed to tackling poverty, extending opportunity and ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, can fulfil their potential. We know that having parents in work, and educational attainment are the strongest determinants of future life chances.Our approach to improving life chances is based on high levels of employment, a welfare and tax system that supports work and allows people to keep more of what they earn, and raising educational attainment for all children.

Housing Benefit

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government plans to respond to the fourth Report of the Work and Pensions Committee of Session 2013-14, Support for housing costs in the reformed welfare system, HC 479.

Justin Tomlinson: Following the General Election the Work and Pensions Select Committee has a new membership and a new Chair. The treatment of any inquiries conducted by the Committee during the last Parliament is a matter for the new Committee to consider.

Work Capability Assessment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people applied for mandatory reconsideration following a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) in the last 12 months; and for how many such people the WCA points score was changed.

Justin Tomlinson: The information as requested is not available.DWP statisticians are looking to include information on Mandatory Reconsiderations in existing regular statistical publications. However, before DWP is able to do this, statisticians need to make sure that the data is accurate and fit for purpose and develop a robust methodology. When a decision has been made, we will pre-announce this in accordance with the UKSA release protocols

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government plans to respond to the fifth Report of the Work and Pensions Committee of Session 2014-15, Benefit sanctions policy beyond the Oakley review, HC 814.

Priti Patel: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 July 2015 to Question 3938

Welfare Reform and Work Bill

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish equality impact assessments for the proposals in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill.

Priti Patel: The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on 20th July. These are available on the Parliament website.http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/welfarereformandwork/documents.html

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects (a) all new benefit claims to be treated as claims for universal credit and (b) all existing benefit claims to be transferred to universal credit.

Priti Patel: Government financial forecasts published in December 2014 outlined expectations that the transition phase for all new Universal Credit (UC) benefit claims will complete by June 2018.The NAO Welfare Reform Report on UC outlined that the bulk of existing benefit claims will be migrated to UC by 2020 with the exception of some tax credit and employment service allowance claims which would be migrated thereafter.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will respond to the Work and Pensions Committee Report on Benefit sanctions beyond the Oakley review, Fifth Report of Session 2014-15, HC 814.

Priti Patel: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 July 2015 to Question3938

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Timber

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to promote a sustainable approach to resourcing timber in the UK.

Rory Stewart: Defra implements the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which makes it an offence to place illegally logged timber on the EU market for the first time, and the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation, which aims to combat illegal logging and improve the supply of legal timber to the EU. The EU FLEGT Regulation establishes Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) between the EU and timber producing countries. Once VPAs have been agreed, timber producing countries will issue exports with a ‘FLEGT licence’ which verifies the timber’s legality.Defra is also responsible for the Government’s Timber Procurement Policy, which requires central government departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies to procure timber and timber products that are both legal and sustainable.Domestic forests provide about 20% of the UK’s timber needs. They are managed in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard, the reference standard for sustainable forest management in the UK. Moreover, about 85% of UK timber production is independently certified, providing additional assurances of sustainability.

Timber: EU Law

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent decisions she has had with (a) representatives of the EU and (b) her counterparts in other member states on EU timber regulations.

Rory Stewart: Defra officials regularly discuss the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) and the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation with both the European Commission and other EU Member States.Most recently (September 2015) Defra officials participated in a FLEGT/EUTR Expert Group meeting in Brussels, covering a range of related issues including implementation of the two regulations across the EU.

EU Law: Pollution Control

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate she has made of the annual cost to British businesses of the EU's pollution directive.

Rory Stewart: There are a number of EU directives covering a wide range of pollution issues. This answer refers to the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU), which was transposed into law in England and Wales in February 2013. The Directive requires operators in a range of industrial sectors to comply with certain standards to ensure the reduction of emissions from their activities.Prior to transposition of the Directive, our impact assessment estimated that the annual regulatory and compliance costs for the main affected sectors would be £105m for operators of large combustion plants and £0 - £15m for a range of other installations in the waste treatment and wood treatment sectors.The impact assessment estimated that the annual human health benefits due to a reduction in emissions of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter from large combustion plants alone would be £188m. Other benefits for human health and the environment were also expected to arise from other pollutants that could not be monetised.

Bees: Neonicotinoids

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will assess the effect on the bee population of the repeal of the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The UK Government has not repealed a ban on neonicotinoids. There is not a ban, but an EU restriction on the use of three neonicotinoids that has been in place since 1 December 2013. A number of uses of these neonicotinoids remain approved. The restriction has been implemented in full in the UK.EU rules on pesticides allow for the limited and controlled use of restricted neonicotinoids in emergency situations to control a danger which cannot be contained by any other reasonable means. In assessing applications for limited and controlled use, the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides considers all the relevant environmental and agronomic factors, including the effects on bees and the value of the products as a consequence of safeguarding crop yields. Recently, Ministers followed the Committee’s advice in the granting of two authorisations to use neonicotinoids to protect an area equivalent to 5% of the national oilseed rape crop.The European Commission has begun a review of the science on neonicotinoids and pollinators. The UK Government is participating fully in that process.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Calum Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost to date of the Government's CAP IT system.

George Eustice: The total programme costs (audited outturn) for 2013-14 and 2014-15 is £98.4 million.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Calum Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the European Commission on the relaxation of rules on farm checks required for the Basic Payment Scheme.

George Eustice: Simplification of the farm controls regime under the Basic Payment Scheme is a top priority for the Department. The Secretary of State and I have had regular discussions and exchanges with Commissioner Hogan on how this could be applied practically. The Secretary of State raised this with the Commission most recently on 7 September 2015 at the Extraordinary Agriculture and Fisheries Council. Officials also continue to press the Commission at working-group level.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Tenancy Deposit Schemes

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Deposit Protection Service; and what plans he has to strengthen protections for tenants' damage deposits.

Brandon Lewis: The Department has a governance role in ensuring that all Tenancy Deposit Protection schemes perform to high standards.The Deposit Protection Service is required to submit monthly key performance indicators and provide annual updates of their management and financial plans to the Department, in accordance with the Service Concession Agreement we have with them.In addition, the Department holds quarterly monitoring meetings with the scheme operators at which any performance issues can be discussed. Since the schemes began in 2007, the Deposit Protection Service's performance against the benchmarks set by our key performance indicators has been consistently high.Safeguards are already in place to ensure that tenants' deposits are protected. All landlords and agents are required to protect a deposit and provide the tenant with certain prescribed information within 30 days of taking the deposit. At the end of the tenancy, the deposit should be returned to the tenant if they have honoured the terms of the tenancy agreement. If the landlord and tenant do not agree how the deposit should be apportioned, they can use the free Alternative Dispute Resolution service offered by the schemes.

Private Rented Housing: Tenants Rights

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of giving tenants in the private rental sector the right to end a tenancy with their full deposits if they discover that the landlord has been convicted of a housing offence.

Brandon Lewis: A tenancy agreement is a contract between a landlord and tenant. If the conditions of the agreement are breached the affected party will normally have the right to end that contract; any tenant deposit due to be returned will be repaid through the normal procedures. We do not have any plans to alter this arrangement.

Landlords: Licensing

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a landlord licensing scheme.

Brandon Lewis: Local authorities have strong powers to introduce selective licensing schemes where they have acute, localised problems of high levels of crime, inward migration, anti-social behaviour or deprivation, or suffer from low housing demand or poor property conditions. These powers should only be used where there is a real need and it is proportionate to do so.We do not support blanket licensing schemes as they put unnecessary burdens and expense on good landlords which reduces choice, and increases costs, for tenants. A targeted approach helps to ensure that local authorities focus their enforcement activity on areas with the most severe problems, and are able to deliver their local plans in a way that is beneficial to both landlords and tenants.

Homelessness

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the homelessness prevention grant.

Mr Marcus Jones: The homelessness prevention grant is part of our £500 million investment in local authority and voluntary sector homelessness services and has contributed to local authorities preventing 935,800 households from becoming homeless since 2010.

Planning Permission

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will require builders to submit infrastructure delivery plans prior to main planning applications.

Brandon Lewis: A local planning authority can already require that an infrastructure delivery plan should accompany a planning application if this is specified on a formally adopted ‘local list’ and it is reasonable to expect that the information will be material to the decision.

Housing: Jaywick

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the 30 September 2015 publication, English Indices of Deprivation, what plans his Department has to introduce specific measures to (a) improve the standard of housing, (b) improve the quality of life and (c) liberalise planning rules for house building in Jaywick.

Brandon Lewis: In March 2015, my Department announced that the Jaywick Coastal Community Team would be one of 12 pilots that bring local community, public and private sector delivery partners together to develop an economic plan for their area to help promote jobs and growth in seaside towns. The Jaywick Team is focusing on three key issues:Addressing housing and poor infrastructure provision for the existing communitySupporting the local economy by the location of care and assisted living provision – “Extra Care Village”Creating local apprentice and employment opportunitiesMy officials meet regularly with Essex County Council and Tendring District Council to discuss the regeneration strategy being prepared for Jaywick.

Housing: Lancaster

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) council houses, (b) housing association properties and (c) affordable homes were built in the Lancaster City Council local authority area between (i) 1997 and 2001, (ii) 2001 and 2005, (iii) 2005 and 2010 and (iv) 2010 and 2015.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on house building completions by tenure in each local authority district are published in the Department's live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link.http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-buildingTaken together, house building statistics by housing association and local authority tenures provide estimates of total social housing completions, but these figures understate total affordable supply. This is because the house building figures are categorised by the type of developer rather than the intended final tenure, leading to under recording of affordable housing, and a corresponding over recording of private enterprise figures.More comprehensive statistics on affordable housing completions are published in the Department’s live tables 1006, 1006a, 1007 and 1008, which are available at the following link:http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supplyThese statistics include both newly built housing and acquisitions.

HM Treasury

Treasury: Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments in respect of carbon offsetting were made in each such year.

Harriett Baldwin: HM Treasury spent the following totals on Carbon Offsetting in each of the last three years:13/14 – £37,140.0012/13 – £36,720.0011/12 – £37,980.00All Carbon Credits were purchased from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the National Grid transmission charges likely to be applied to Hinkley Point C when that power station is operational.

Andrea Leadsom: It is the Generator who has estimated the transmission charges applicable to Hinkley Point C during operation. The Strike Price has been calculated on the basis of NNBG's projected construction and operating costs, including a non-guaranteed reasonable profit, with NNBG's costs having been substantiated and independently verified.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on the capacity of overall UK electricity output to meet peak demand of the proposed Hinkley Point C power station not coming into operation in 2023.

Andrea Leadsom: Our number one priority is to ensure that hardworking families and businesses have access to secure, affordable energy supplies that they can rely on. We’re addressing a legacy of underinvestment to make sure we keep powering the economy now and into the futureThe Capacity Market is our principal tool for ensuring we have enough capacity to meet peak demand in future. Resources which receive forms of low-carbon support such as Contracts for Difference (CFDs) do not participate in the Capacity Market auctions, but each auction is based on an updated estimate of capacity requirements four years ahead, taking account of the latest evidence on the future availability of those other resources.The Capacity Market provides the mechanism for attracting sufficient investment in the overall level of reliable capacity (both supply and demand side) needed to provide secure electricity supplies. It brings forward new investment and gets the best out of existing assets by competitively setting a price for capacity through annual auctions.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what decommissioning provision is allowed within the proposed strike rate of £92.50/MWh for the electricity from the proposed Hinkley Point C power station.

Andrea Leadsom: The decommissioning costs for the Hinkley Point C power station, together with the waste management and waste disposal costs, account for £2-£3/MWh of the strike price.

Radioactive Waste

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the safety, sustainability and absence of risk to the environment of methods available for disposing of radioactive waste.

Andrea Leadsom: Government policy on disposing of higher activity radioactive waste is based on a comprehensive review of all the available options for existing wastes originally carried out by the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management between 2003 and 2006. Based on their consideration of all the evidence, including international best practice and scientific advice, they recommended geological disposal in an engineered facility at least 200m below ground as the best available option.The independent nuclear safety, security and environmental regulators will only allow a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) to be built and operated if they are satisfied it will meet their demanding regulatory requirements. The developer of any GDF will be required to present a detailed set of safety arguments for all aspects of a proposed facility. This includes everything from transporting the waste to the facility, to its design, construction and operation and safety in the long term, following closure.Disposal routes for low level waste are already in operation in the UK. All proposals for radioactive waste disposals, including existing low level waste disposals, are subject to permitting by the Environment Agency who require operators to demonstrate that they are applying the best available techniques.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

David Warburton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effect of proposed changes to the feed-in-tariff on solar firms and small businesses in (a) Somerton and Frome constituency, (b) the South West and (c) the UK.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cabinet Office

Trade Unions: Subscriptions

Chris Stephens: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the contribution by the hon. Member for Croydon South on 14 September 2015, Official Report, column 787, what assessment has been made of the income received by public sector employers from the deduction of trades union dues at source.

Matthew Hancock: The cost of administering a check off service, and therefore any charge agreed between the trade unions and the employer, varies across the public sector, depending on the legacy payroll systems in place.

Cervical Cancer

Nigel Adams: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many women under 25 have been diagnosed with cervical cancer in each of the last five years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Cervical Cancer
(PDF Document, 169.49 KB)

Data Protection

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2015 to Question 9924, whether he plans to implement the recommendation of the British Computing Society that personal data should remain the property of the individual unless they choose for it to be used.

Matthew Hancock: As we develop our new Government Data Programme, we are considering principles for the handling andprotection of personal data in different circumstances, and how these will be translatedinto service design and controls for new digital and technology project.

Cabinet Office: Public Appointments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who the acting Chief Data Officer is; and what plans are in place for a permanent appointment to that post.

Matthew Hancock: A Data Steering Board has been established that brings together the data, technical and policy communities from across government. As part of that, a new Government Chief Data Officer will be appointed in due course.

Oesophageal Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in each of the last five years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Melonama
(PDF Document, 94.54 KB)

Skin Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in each Office for National Statistics age group were diagnosed with melanoma in each of the last five years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Melonama
(PDF Document, 267.23 KB)

Productivity: Young People

Owen Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government has made of the rates of productivity of young employed people in the UK.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Rates of Productivity
(PDF Document, 68.83 KB)

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

BBC: Religion

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether requirements for religious content will be included in the new BBC Charter.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The overall scale and scope of the BBC, including the provision of different genres, is part of the Charter Review discussion. The public consultation looked at these issues and closed on 8 October having received more than 190,000 responses. In the coming months we will continue to listen to the views of the public, industry and this House as proposals for the future of the BBC are developed.

Football: Disability

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will hold discussions with the Football Association about improved access for disabled people to Premier League football matches.

Tracey Crouch: I meet regularly with the Football Association, Premier League and Football League to discuss a wide range of issues, including improved access for disabled spectators to Premier League football matches. The Government welcomes the recent announcement by the Premier League for all Premiership clubs to achieve compliance with the Accessible Stadia Guide (which can be found at http://www.safetyatsportsgrounds.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/accessible-stadia.pdf ) by August 2017 and we will be seeking regular updates from the Premier League on progress to implement it.

Television: Royalties

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that payment of royalties is made by platform providers to broadcasters as well as to the rights-holders of programmes.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government’s consultation on the balance of payments between pay TV platforms and Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) closed on 30 June 2015. The consultation examined the flow of payments between PSBs and pay TV platforms, and whether regulations relating to these transactions are necessary to ensure broadcasters can deliver the highest quality content, at the best price, to the widest possible audience. Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials are now analysing with a view to publishing a Government response in due course.

Department of Health

Hospital Beds

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate he has made of the cost of delayed discharges to the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Department has made no formal estimate of the costs of delayed discharge to the National Health Service. It is recognised that such delayed discharges do use resource which could be deployed elsewhere, and all parts of the NHS and those with responsibility outside it, are continually looking for ways in which to reduce the number of delays.

Health Services and Public Health Act 1968

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons his Department sought the deemed consent arrangements for grants from HM Treasury under Section 64 of the Health and Public Act 1968; and what the job titles are of the officials in his Department that were involved in those discussions.

Jane Ellison: The Department agreed deemed consent arrangements with HM Treasury to reduce the administrative burden, recognising that newer grant giving legislation did not require similar approvals, and to streamline the grants making process, whilst maintaining the same level of oversight and scrutiny of cases. The decision was made with the agreement of the Director of Group Finance and the Deputy Director – Voluntary Sector Grants.

Heart Pacemakers: Death

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many deaths there have been as a result of faulty heart pacemakers in each year since 2010.

George Freeman: Clinicians are encouraged and manufacturers are mandated to report deaths and other incidents to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) if they suspect a device fault.The numbers of United Kingdom deaths reported annually since 2010 to the MHRA involving patients implanted with approved pacemakers, are as follows:YearDeaths reported involving pacemaker patients2015 - present12014820133201232011120104According to registry data from 2014, over 35,000 pacemakers are implanted annually in the UK. Therefore the number of reported patient deaths listed above which could have potentially related to pacemaker failure represents no more than 0.01% of this population.Analysis of MHRA investigation conclusions revealed that none of the above deaths resulted from a faulty pacemaker.As the UK regulatory authority, the MHRA is responsible for monitoring the safety of medical devices once they have been approved for market. Although the majority of pacemakers are well functioning, the MHRA actively monitor the performance of implants using a variety of methods.One key element involves the investigation of device-related adverse incidents, where manufacturers’ mandatory reports are supplemented by voluntary reports from clinicians and members of the public using the yellow card system.The MHRA challenges manufacturers if it is believed that the proposed post-investigation action is inadequate to protect public health.Every new incident, including those involving pacemakers, is assessed and assigned to an appropriate type of investigation according to its severity and the likelihood of obtaining further information on the cause of the event. All reports, even those unsuitable for further investigation, are fully recorded and subject to periodic trend analysis by the MHRA to look for signals suggesting any possible device-related problems.In addition to scrutinizing manufacturers’ device data provided in incident investigations, and their published product performance reports, the MHRA also monitors relevant published research and articles on potential safety concerns as part of its surveillance of the medical device market. If evidence emerges that affects the safety of UK pacemaker patients, the Agency issues advice to the health service and takes any necessary regulatory action.Furthermore the Agency actively engages with the clinicians and professional bodies to gauge their opinion on early indications for failure and problems encountered with device usage.

NHS: Innovation

Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to include measures drawn from the NHS innovation scorecard in the proposed clinical commissioning group scorecard.

George Freeman: The King’s Fund published their report on a clinical commissioning group (CCG) scorecard, Measuring the Performance of Local Health Systems (http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/articles/measuring-performance-local-health-systems), on 12 October. The King’s Fund recommends that the scorecard should comprise a small number of headline indicators targeted at the public; a broader set of indicators on performance in delivering national priorities; and a wide set of indicators for local health systems to use for improvement.The Innovation Scorecard focuses on appropriate access to innovations (specifically medicines and devices) through the National Health Service. It includes medicines which have received a positive appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence since 2011. It aims to give Health and Care commissioners and professionals access to data at the national and local level that they can use to identify and act on unwarranted variation in patient access to these treatments.The Department will publish further details of how it will work with NHS England to design and implement the CCG scorecard in due course.

Heart Pacemakers

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency have made of (i) the rate of reported faults in heart pacemakers and (ii) research from UK and non-UK sources on heart pacemakers since 2010.

George Freeman: Clinicians are encouraged and manufacturers are mandated to report deaths and other incidents to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) if they suspect a device fault.The numbers of United Kingdom deaths reported annually since 2010 to the MHRA involving patients implanted with approved pacemakers, are as follows:YearDeaths reported involving pacemaker patients2015 - present12014820133201232011120104According to registry data from 2014, over 35,000 pacemakers are implanted annually in the UK. Therefore the number of reported patient deaths listed above which could have potentially related to pacemaker failure represents no more than 0.01% of this population.Analysis of MHRA investigation conclusions revealed that none of the above deaths resulted from a faulty pacemaker.As the UK regulatory authority, the MHRA is responsible for monitoring the safety of medical devices once they have been approved for market. Although the majority of pacemakers are well functioning, the MHRA actively monitor the performance of implants using a variety of methods.One key element involves the investigation of device-related adverse incidents, where manufacturers’ mandatory reports are supplemented by voluntary reports from clinicians and members of the public using the yellow card system.The MHRA challenges manufacturers if it is believed that the proposed post-investigation action is inadequate to protect public health.Every new incident, including those involving pacemakers, is assessed and assigned to an appropriate type of investigation according to its severity and the likelihood of obtaining further information on the cause of the event. All reports, even those unsuitable for further investigation, are fully recorded and subject to periodic trend analysis by the MHRA to look for signals suggesting any possible device-related problems.In addition to scrutinizing manufacturers’ device data provided in incident investigations, and their published product performance reports, the MHRA also monitors relevant published research and articles on potential safety concerns as part of its surveillance of the medical device market. If evidence emerges that affects the safety of UK pacemaker patients, the Agency issues advice to the health service and takes any necessary regulatory action.Furthermore the Agency actively engages with the clinicians and professional bodies to gauge their opinion on early indications for failure and problems encountered with device usage.

Health Professions: Training

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure that sufficient doctors and nurses are trained in the UK to maintain safe staffing levels in the NHS.

Ben Gummer: The Government has established Health Education England (HEE) as the body responsible for workforce planning and the commissioning of education and training for the National Health Service and public health system with a budget of £4.9 billion.The number of nurse training places has increased by 14% over the past three years, with currently over 50,000 nurses in training as at 31 March 2015.HEE is forecasting that, based on their current training plans, there will be 23,121 more nurses available to work in the NHS by 2019 compared to 2014.There are currently near record numbers of nurses and midwives in post in the NHS in England. The latest available figures from June 2015 show a total of 317,595 nurses and midwives in post.Since May 2010, the number of doctors in the NHS has increased by 8,574 to just under 104,000.

NHS: Digital Technology

Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to page 20 of the 2014 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, which body is responsible for ensuring there should be no local barriers to accessing technologies recommended in NICE guidance; what assessment that body has made of the existence of local barriers since 1 January 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to ensure that the boards of all relevant NHS organisations are responsible for ensuring adherence to the mandatory funding direction for NICE appraisals.

Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of recent requests by NHS England to delay implementation of NICE guidance with his Department's commitment to the three month funding requirement in the latest iteration of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme; what steps he is taking to ensure that all positive NICE recommendations are funded within three months; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to page 20 of the 2014 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, what recent assessment he has made of the compliance of NHS bodies with the requirement for the incorporation of NICE technology appraisal recommendations into local NHS formularies.

George Freeman: NHS England is specified in the 2014 Pharmaceutical Pricing Regulation Scheme agreement as the body responsible for ensuring there are no local barriers to ensuring access to technologies recommended in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal and highly specialised technology guidance.NHS England has advised that there are a range of initiatives which assist NHS England in this obligation:- NICE technology appraisalrecommendations are required to be incorporated automatically into relevant local medicines formularies;- providers are required to publish local medicines formularies;- the NICE Implementation Collaborative (NIC) examines barriers to the prompt implementation of NICE guidance;- an innovation scorecard is published quarterly by the Health and Social Care Information Centre and tracks uptake of many NICE-approved medicines by the NHS;- a joint NHS England and Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry work programme on medicines optimisation is ongoing, which seeks to improve outcomes and value from all medicines;- NHS England works closely with Academic Health Science Networks to accelerate the adoption and diffusion of innovation.The Department’s analysis of medicines spend for the first year of the PPRS shows that branded medicines spend grew by 8.2%, with new medicines on the Innovation Scorecard seeing growth of 18.4%. Further details have been published on the Government’s website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/analysis-of-growth-in-branded-medicines-2013-to-2014Commissioners are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal and highly specialised technology guidance within three months of NICE’s guidance being published. There is provision for this funding period to be extended where there are particular barriers to implementation within three months.

Bladder Cancer: Vaccination

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the BCG vaccines for non-invasive grade 3 aggressive bladder cancer.

George Freeman: One of the two United Kingdom licensed Bacillus Calmette-Guérin bladder instillations has been unavailable since 2012, and the manufacturer of the other has increased its production as far as possible to help meet the shortfall. The Department and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency are working closely with both suppliers, as well as others in the supply chain, to ensure that everything possible is being done to make supplies available for patients who need this treatment. The British Association of Urological Surgeons has issued advice for clinicians to ensure that all patients with high risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer receive effective evidence based treatment.

Cancer: Drugs

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the update on the current Cancer Drugs Fund list, published on 4 September 2015, what estimate he has made of the number of patients who would have been expected to receive the treatments which are being removed from that list in each of the next three years.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the update of the current Cancer Drugs Fund list published on 4 September 2015, what assessment he has made of the potential effects on survival rates for (a) breast cancer, (b) pancreatic cancer, (c) lymphoma and (d) leukaemia of the removal of treatments from that list.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that negotiations are continuing which may result in some drugs remaining in the Cancer Drugs Fund making it difficult to provide a meaningful estimate at this time.NHS England also advises that the planned removal of these drugs from the Fund will have no or minimal impact on survival rates for the cancers listed.

NHS Protect

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prosecutions there have been following an investigation by NHS Protect in each of the past five years; and how many of those prosecutions have been for offences related to (a) fraud, (b) violence, (c) bribery, (d) corruption, (e) criminal damage, (f) theft, (g) market-fixing and (h) other unlawful action.

George Freeman: NHS Protect does not investigate criminal damage, theft or violence. These are matters for the police to pursue. NHS Protect can, if appropriate, take prosecution action independently in cases of violence against National Health Service staff where the police and Crown Prosecution Service do not take cases forward.The number of prosecutions by NHS Protect in each category for the last five years is shown in the following table.YearFraudViolenceBriberyCorruptionTheftMarket Fixing2010-11105000002011-1241000002012-1318100002013-147000002014-151620000

NHS Protect

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) other medical professionals, (d) directors of NHS trusts and (e) other NHS staff have been prosecuted following an investigation by NHS Protect in each of the last five years.

George Freeman: The number of prosecutions by NHS Protect following investigations of fraud in each category for the last five years is shown in the following table.YearDoctorsNursesOther Medical ProfessionalsDirectors of NHS TrustsOther NHS Staff2010-11050110412011-120970252012-13037082013-14000072014-15004012

Junior Doctors: Conditions of Employment

Dr   Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether, under his Department's proposals for new junior doctor contracts, doctors will be prevented from receiving financial remuneration or support as athletes or for playing competitive sport.

Dr   Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether, under his Department's proposals for new junior doctor contracts, doctors will be prevented from receiving remuneration or other financial support for volunteering or working for the armed forces.

Dr   Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether, under his Department's proposals for new junior doctor contracts, doctors will be prevented from receiving remuneration or other financial support for time given to charitable causes.

Dr   Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether, under his Department's proposals for new junior doctor contracts, doctors will be prevented from receiving remuneration or other financial support for time working for or volunteering for overseas medical organisations or charities.

Alistair Burt: Under the current contract for doctors and dentists in training, trainees can choose to take time out of their formal educational programme experience for a range of reasons. Junior doctors can also be armed forces reservists. We expect this to continue under the new contract being developed.Remuneration or financial support for such activities would generally be a matter for the doctor and the employer for whom they are working or institution at which they are studying.The Government is taking forward a manifesto commitment to allow all employees to access three days paid volunteering per year. This will apply to all organisations with over 250 employees, and all public organisations.

NHS Protect

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many investigations NHS Protect has undertaken relating to (a) fraud, (b) bribery, (c) corruption, (d) criminal damage, (e) theft, (f) violence, (g) market-fixing and (h) other unlawful action in each of the last five years.

George Freeman: NHS Protect investigates and seeks prosecutions in cases of fraud, bribery, corruption or other unlawful activity such as market-fixing that are serious or complex and are unable to be undertaken by local health bodies.NHS Protect investigations are categorised as per offences that would be charged should prosecution take place. This categorisation does not necessarily reflect all elements of cases. Matters relating to bribery, corruption or unlawful activity such as market-fixing may therefore be categorised as fraud. Breaking down the number of cases in the form requested could only be done at disproportionate cost.The number of investigations undertaken by NHS Protect for the last five years is shown in the following table.YearFraud2010-112612011-12662012-13442013-14342014-1526

Junior Doctors

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of junior doctors who will be employed by the NHS in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Gummer: National Health Service organisations are best placed to decide how many staff they employ tailoring services to meet the needs of their patients and local communities, to deliver safe care.The Department has set up Health Education England (HEE) to deliver a better health and healthcare workforce for England. They are responsible for ensuring a secure workforce supply that reflects the needs of local service users, providers and commissioners of healthcare.HEE’s Workforce Plan for England 2016-17 will be published in the next few months and will include planned junior doctors training posts.

Health Professions: Training

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of (a) doctors and (b) nurses who completed training in the latest year for which figures are available are (i) not working in the NHS and (ii) working abroad.

Ben Gummer: The Department does not hold any figures on the number and proportion of doctors in training and nurses in training that are not working in the National Health Service and working abroad.

NHS Foundation Trusts: Performance Standards

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he was first informed of the findings of Monitor's report on the performance of the foundation trust sector for the three months ending 30 June 2015.

Alistair Burt: Monitor make continual assessments of the financial performance of foundation trusts and senior officials at both Monitor and the Department provide ongoing and regular updates to the Secretary of State on the financial position in the National Health Service foundation trust sector, and this is not restricted to the quarterly performance reports.

General Practitioners: Training

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practice speciality training posts were (a) commissioned and (b) filled in (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16 to date.

Ben Gummer: In 2014 Health Education England commissioned 3,067 General Practitioner (GP) specialty training posts, and 2,671 were filled.GP recruitment rounds for 2015 are still being conducted with the third and final round set for completion in November. Figures for rounds one and two are subject to validation, along with round three figures. Once all rounds are complete and validated final data will be published by Health Education England.Recruitment and selection has not yet commenced for 2016.As part of a New Deal for General Practice, the Government has committed to increasing the primary and community care workforce by 10,000 by 2020, including an additional 5,000 doctors working in general practice. To support this, NHS England, Health Education England, the Royal College of GPs and the British Medical Association published Building the Workforce in January 2015, which sets out plans to increase the size of the general practice workforce, backed by £10 million of funding. This includes actions to boost recruitment, encourage experienced GPs to stay in the workforce, and support GPs to return to practice after a period of time out of the workforce.

NHS: Managers

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to improve the management skills of senior leaders in the NHS; and what steps he plans to take to make further such improvements.

Ben Gummer: The NHS Leadership Academy was established in 2012 to build management and leadership capability and capacity across the National Health Service. It runs a number of programmes tailored to different development needs such as the Nye Bevan Programme for aspiring executive directors and the NHS Executive Fast Track, which improve the management skills of senior leaders in the NHS.We invited Lord Rose to carry out a review of NHS leadership. His report (Better leadership for tomorrow) was published in July and made a number of recommendations to improve leadership across the NHS. Lord Rose recommended that leaders be offered ongoing career support and improved training that is aligned with national and local priorities. Lord Rose also said that the NHS should do more to attract top talent from outside the NHS. We accepted all of his recommendations in principle and we are working to ensure that they are implemented proportionately across the health service.

Brain: Tumours

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent by his Department on research into brain tumours in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15.

George Freeman: The information requested is not available. Spend on research funded directly by the Department’s National Institute for Health Research is categorised by Health Research Classification System (HRCS) health categories including ‘cancer’. There are no HRCS health sub-categories, such as for brain tumours or other cancer sites.